Violent protests over Dhaka factory collapse

Updated
April 27, 2013 09:33:00

There have been violent protests in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka as workers vent their fury over a building collapse that has cost hundreds of lives. Working conditions in Bangladesh's garment industry are notoriously bad and western companies are being criticised for producing clothes there.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Violent protests have broken out in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka as workers vent their fury over a building collapse that has cost hundreds of lives.

Hopes are fading that any more survivors might be found amid the wreckage. The eight storey building collapsed despite warnings that it was unstable.

Working conditions in Bangladesh's garment industry are notoriously bad and Western companies are now being criticised for producing clothes there.

Our South Asia correspondent Mike Edwards has this report.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: Families crowd around the devastated area searching for any sign of relatives caught in the collapse. As time drags on, the chances of finding people alive diminish. But rescue teams are still finding pockets of survivors.

General Nasir Hasan is the chief of the rescue operation.

NASIR HASAN: I think about 15 dead bodies and about 17 alive they have recovered so far, and the rescue operation continue.

Our priority is to rescue those who are alive first, and second, those who are dead, we look for them.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: There's anger that workers were forced back into the building despite the owner knowing it was unstable.

These workers told CNN they narrowly escaped with their lives.

WORKER (translation): We were trapped. We did not want to enter the building, but the owners pushed us to go in and work.

(Protesters chanting)

MICHAEL EDWARDS: The rage has spilled onto the streets of Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka.

Protesters armed with stick and stones were met by police using tear gas and shooting rubber bullets.

A number of Western companies used the factories housed in the collapsed building.

The textiles industry in Bangladesh has an appalling safety record.

Amirul Haque Amin is from the Garment Workers' Union. He says multi-national companies bear some of the responsibility for the disaster.

AMIRUL HAQUE AMIN: The main responsibility it is multinational companies, those are sourcing from these factories.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: But the industry is worth $20 billion a year to the country.

Syed Sultan Uddin is a labour relations expert based in Dhaka. He wants Western companies to continue to manufacture there, but just to ensure that the factories they use adhere to safety standards.

SYED SULTAN UDDIN: It's not realistic or helpful not to buy from Bangladesh.

I would like to say Bangladeshi people need more support from the international community that builds more business and proper cost also.

(inaudible) and the government to ensure that workers should get their fair share and safety.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: Bangladesh's government has ordered an inquiry into the collapse.